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Svans
Svan: შვანარ *shvanar*
Georgian: სვანი *svani*
	Distribution of the Svan language in relation to other Kartvelian (South Caucasian) languages.
Total population
	c. 14,000–80,000
Regions with significant populations
Georgia	14,000–30,000
Languages
	Svan, Georgian
Religion
	Predominantly † Eastern Orthodox Christianity; (Georgian Orthodox Church)
Related ethnic groups
	Georgians, the Laz and Mingrelians

The Svans (Svan: შვანარ, Shvanar; Georgian: სვანი, Svani) are an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians (Kartvelians)^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] living mostly in Svaneti, a region in northwest Georgia. They speak the Svan language and are mostly bilingual also in Georgian. Both these languages belong to the Kartvelian (South Caucasian) language family. In the pre-1930 Soviet census, the Svans were categorized as a separate ethnic group (natsionalnost).^[8] The self-designation of the Svan is Mushüan, which is probably reflected in the ethnonym Misimian of the Classical authors.^[9]

History

The Svans are usually identified with the Soani mentioned by Greek geographer Strabo, who placed them more or less in the area still occupied by the modern-day Svans.^{[citation needed]}

In the Russian Empire and early Soviet Union Mingrelians and Svans had their own census grouping, but were classified under the broader category of Georgian in the 1930s. They are Georgian Orthodox Christians, and were Christianized in the 4th–6th centuries. However, some remnants of pre-Christian beliefs have been maintained. Saint George (known as Jgëræg to the locals), a patron saint of Georgia, is the most respected saint. The Svans have retained many of their old traditions, including blood revenge, although this tradition has been declining over time and as law enforcement takes hold. Their families are small, and the husband is the head of his family. The Svan strongly respect the older women in families.

Language

Typically bilingual, they use both Georgian and their own, unwritten Svan language. Prior to the 19th century, many Svans were monolingual, only knowing the Svan language.^[10]

Genetics

The most common Y-chromosomal haplogroup among the Svans is G2a (90%), in the second place is the Y-chromosomal haplogroup R1a (5%), in the third place is the Y-chromosomal haplogroup J2a1 (about 3%). Among mitochondrial haplogroups H (17.9%), K (15.8%), W6 (13%), T (9.24%), U1 (7.61%), X2 (6, 52%), U2 (5.98%) are common haplogroups.^[11]

Famous Svans

Ilia Topuria (born 1997), UFC Featherweight Champion
Temur Babluani (born 1948), film director, script writer, and actor
Géla Babluani (born 1979), Georgian-French film director
Mikheil Gelovani (1893–1956), actor who primarily portrayed Stalin
Otar Ioseliani (1934–2023), film director in Georgia
Mikheil Kurdiani (1954–2010), philologist, linguist, writer, poet and translator
Sopho Gelovani (born 1984), singer
Tariel Oniani (born 1952), mafia boss
Yaroslav Iosseliani (1912–1978), Soviet Navy submarine commander
Nana Ioseliani (born 1962), chess player
Otia Ioseliani (1930–2011), Georgian writer
Tengiz Kitovani (1938–2023), Georgian politician

References

^ ^a ^b Project, Joshua. "Svanetian, Mushwan in Georgia". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Svan/Udi/Tsova-Tush - DOBES". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^ Stephen F. Jones. Svans. World Culture Encyclopedia. Retrieved on March 13, 2011: «The Svans are one of the dozen or so traditionally recognized ethnic subgroups within the Georgian (Kartvelian) nation.»
^ The Svans Kevin Tuite Université de Montréal 1992: «The Svans are one of the dozen or so traditionally recognized ethnic subgroups within the Georgian (Kartvelian) nation.»
^ Britannica. Caucasian peoples: «The Caucasian peoples ... The southerners, comprising the Georgians, the closely related Mingrelians and Laz, and the Svan, make up the Republic of Georgia and live in western Transcaucasia (the Laz live in Turkish territory).»
^ R. Wixman. The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook (p.181): «Svan ... The Svanetians are one of the Kartvelian peoples of the Georgian SSR»
^ Levinson, David. Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998. p 35
^ "Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей". demoscope.ru. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^ History of Georgian Mountein Regions / R. Topchishvili. Available at The National Parliamentary Library of Georgia
^ Tuite, Kevin. "Svan and its speakers" (PDF). Université de Montréal. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022. Up to the 19th century, many Svans were monolingual,
^ Yardumian, Aram; Shengelia, Ramaz; Chitanava, David; et al. (2017). "Genetic diversity in S vaneti and its implications for the human settlement of the H ighland C aucasus". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 164 (4): 837–852. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23324. ISSN 0002-9483.